Method and apparatus for displaying information on recycling and refuse containers

ABSTRACT

The invention provides for the placement of communications such as advertising on recycling and refuse container articles such as recycling bins. The communication can take the form of an advertisement panel of printed media such as decals, posters, signs, cards, or indicia that is imprinted or otherwise applied to one or more surfaces of the article itself, and may be periodically changed. The invention also provides for the dissemination of localized advertising, e.g., advertising by businesses in the immediate vicinity of the neighborhood, apartment complex, or business park where the recycling bins are deployed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the display of information such as advertising, and more specifically to an improved method and apparatus for display of printed media such as advertising copy on recycling and refuse containers.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Recycling and refuse containers are well known and in widespread use. Most such containers are simply unadorned boxes, bins, or barrels that are provided to or sold to businesses and residences for use in depositing and collecting recyclables or trash

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0003] In the broadest sense, the method and apparatus for displaying information on recycling and refuse containers of this invention provides for the placement of public, private, and/or commercial communications of all forms on waste, recycling and refuse container articles such as recycling bins, trash cans and other solid waste collection containers, wheeled toters, carts, mechanical metal containers, trucks, and similar equipment. The communication can take the form of an advertisement panel of printed media such as decals, posters, signs, cards, or indicia that is imprinted (e.g., hot stamp imprinting), embossed, painted, etched, burned or otherwise applied to one or more wall or surface of the article itself, conveying information in the form of text and/or graphic images to the reader. This information may constitute public or private messages, or, in a commercial application, advertising copy content such as information about the goods and services of any of a variety of vendors and suppliers. The printed media is applied to a visible sure of the article such as a recycling bin or refuse container so that the information is conveyed to any and all readers, and in particular, the user of the article.

[0004] In the preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a more or less standard recycling bin having one or a plurality of walls or sides, with an advertisement panel such as a decal bearing advertising content applied the outside surface of at least one of the walls. The decal may be periodically removed from the recycling bin and replaced with a new decal bearing the same or different advertising content. Alternatively, the advertisement may be printed on paper or other media, and placed behind a clear, protective window, or into a clear envelope affixed to the recycling bin, again so that the advertisement may be periodically changed. Any of these embodiments are particularly well suited to the dissemination of localized advertising, e.g., advertising by stores and restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the neighborhood, apartment complex, or business park where the recycling bins are deployed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical recycling bin having a plurality of walls, with a decal bearing advertising content applied to a surface of at least one of the walls;

[0006]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical MSD cart or wheeled toter having a plurality of walls, with a removable sign bearing advertising content applied the outside surface of at least one of the walls; and

[0007]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a typical trash cart having a plurality of walls, with imprinted advertising copy applied the outside surface of at least one of the walls.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical recycling bin 10 having a plurality of walls 12, 13, with an advertisement panel in the form of a decal 14 bearing advertising content applied to an outside surface 16 of wall 12 and/or an inside surface 17 of wall 13. The decal 14 may be periodically removed from the recycling bin 10 and replaced with a new decal bearing the same or different advertising content. In this manner, the advertising message can be kept current, and this also provides the opportunity for periodic resale of the advertising space. The containers themselves may be injection molded from high-density polyethylene, and are preferably configured to be nestable (i.e., frusto-pyramid in shape) for ease of transport and storage.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical MSD cart or wheeled toter 20 having a plurality of walls 22, with an advertisement panel in the form of a removable sign 24 bearing advertising content applied the outside surface 26 of at least one of the walls. The removable sign (advertisement) may be printed on paper or other media, and placed behind a clear, protective window 28, or into a clear envelope affixed to the recycling bin, again so that the advertisement may be periodically changed.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a typical trash cart 30 having a plurality of walls 32, with an advertisement panel in the form of imprinted advertising copy 34 applied to the outside surface 36 of at least one of the walls. Imprinting is a more durable, and thus more permanent, form of applying the advertising indicia to the container, but may be less desirable in those applications where periodic changing of the advertising message is desired.

[0011] The inventive apparatus may be utilized by solid waste hauling and disposal services, municipalities, counties, public government entities, and private companies. The apparatus may be deployed curbside, in offices, in industrial settings, or in any other application.

[0012] A preferred method for the displaying of advertising on recycling and refuse containers of this invention comprises the dissemination of localized advertising. In this method, the recycling bins and/or refuse containers are labeled with the advertising copy of businesses, stores, restaurants, or other providers of goods and services that are located in the immediate vicinity of the neighborhood, apartment complex, or business park where the bins or containers are deployed. Thus, a business may target their advertisements to a specific geographic area, down to particular streets and addresses. Because the recycling bins and Fuse containers are themselves kept and reused, the advertising message can be seen regularly and repeatedly by the targeted local consumers.

[0013] Accordingly, a method of this invention may be characterized as a method for displaying advertisements comprising the steps of providing a waste container, affixing advertising copy of a business onto the waste container, and deploying the waste container to a consumer in a specific geographic area adjacent the business location.

[0014] While this invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, it is obvious that various modifications, changes or substitutions therein may be made by those skilled in the art to which it pertains, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

What is claimed as invention is:
 1. An apparatus for displaying information on recycling and refuse containers, said apparatus comprising: a waste container having at least one wall; and an advertising panel bearing advertising content applied to a surface of said at least one wall.
 2. The apparatus for displaying information on recycling and refuse containers of claim 1 wherein said waste container comprises a recycling bin, and said advertisement panel comprises a decal.
 3. The apparatus for displaying information on recycling and refuse containers of claim 1 wherein said waste container comprises a recycling bin, and said advertisement panel comprises a removable sing.
 4. The apparatus for displaying information on recycling and refuse containers of claim 1 wherein said waste container comprises a recycling bin, and said advertisement panel comprises a clear window bearing advertising material affixed to the outside surface of said at least one wall.
 5. The apparatus for displaying information on recycling and refuse containers of claim 1 wherein said waste container comprises a recycling bin, and said advertisement panel comprises imprinted indicia.
 6. The apparatus for displaying information on recycling and refuse containers of claim 1 wherein said waste container comprises a refuse container, and said advertisement panel comprises a decal.
 7. The apparatus for displaying information on recycling and refuse containers of claim 1 wherein said waste container comprises a refuse container, and said advertisement panel comprises a removable sign.
 8. The apparatus for displaying information on recycling and refuse containers of claim 1 wherein said waste container comprises a refuse container, and said advertisement panel comprises a clear window bearing advertising material affixed to the outside surface of said at least one wall.
 9. The apparatus for displaying information on recycling and refuse container of claim 1 wherein said waste container comprises a refuse container, and said advertisement panel comprises imprinted indicia.
 10. A method for displaying advertisements, said method comprising the steps of: Providing a waste container, Affixing advertising copy of a business onto the waste container; and Deploying the waste container to a consumer in a specific geographic area adjacent the business location. 